{"id":247035,"date":"2021-05-12T01:25:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T22:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/clay-helton-compares-jets-alijah-vera-tucker-to-all-pro\/"},"modified":"2021-05-12T01:25:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T22:25:21","slug":"clay-helton-compares-jets-alijah-vera-tucker-to-all-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/clay-helton-compares-jets-alijah-vera-tucker-to-all-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"#Clay Helton compares Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker to All-Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Clay Helton compares Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker to All-Pro<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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USC coach Clay Helton has a lofty comparison for new Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, whom Helton coached for the last three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s in the mold of Quenton Nelson, having played him for years,\u201d Helton told The Post.<\/p>\n

That would be Nelson, the Colts guard who has been All-Pro in each of his first three seasons and has established himself as the best guard in football.<\/p>\n

No pressure, Alijah.<\/p>\n

Helton makes the comparison to Nelson, whom he faced in the USC-Notre Dame game<\/a> every year, because he believes Vera-Tucker possesses some of the same traits.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis versatility is what stands out to me first,\u201d Helton said. \u201cI think he\u2019s going to be a special interior player at guard with elite athleticism and feet. He has that tackle athleticism that\u2019s elite at guard, but if you get in a pinch in a game or a season, you could always move him back out to tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jets traded up in the first round from No. 23 to 14 to take Vera-Tucker, surrendering two third-round picks in the process. The trade has drawn some criticism from those who believe GM Joe Douglas gave up too much to move up to take a guard. If Vera-Tucker lives up to the billing that his college coaches give him, though, no one will remember the price the Jets paid.<\/p>\n

\"Jets
Alijah Vera-Tucker, Quenton Nelson<\/figcaption>
AP (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tim Drevno was Vera-Tucker\u2019s offensive line coach at USC. He said the 6-foot-4, 308-pounder is unflapp<\/a>able.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just doesn\u2019t panic,\u201d Drevno, now an assistant at UCLA, said. \u201cHe stays in the moment, produces at a high level. If he makes a mistake, he\u2019s not a repeat offender. He goes onto the next play and doesn\u2019t let the last play affect him. That\u2019s how he\u2019s wired. He\u2019s special. It\u2019s not too big for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vera-Tucker started at left guard for the Trojans in 2019. When the team lost left tackle Austin Jackson to the NFL after that season, they looked to Vera-Tucker to move outside. They only had one spring practice because of COVID-19 and had to rush him to get ready for the season when they had an abbreviated training camp.<\/p>\n